Growing Opportunities for Workers Interested in Fully Remote Positions

The workforce of today is growing more global than ever before. Traditional, in-house employees are out, and remote workers are in. We often praise the benefits of hiring freelance talent when finding full-time employees becomes a challenge, but now, employers across the country may have to start changing their people practices to accommodate “nomad” workers, as well.

A new growing trend that recruiters and employers should be aware of: Some states are now offering thousands of dollars to lure talent into these regions to help boost the population and the economy. We’ve heard of talent poaching before, but this trend is slightly different.

Vermont Attracts Telecommuters

In June 2018, Vermont announced that it would be paying a select number of workers $10,000 to move up to the Green Mountain State, but there’s a catch. These workers must be full-time employees for an employer that isn’t in Vermont and they must stay at least 2 years to reap the full payment.
According to CNN Travel, “The money will be available as a grant to prospective Vermonters on a first-come, first-serve basis from January 1, 2019. The sum will be received over two years with each worker qualified to receive up to $5,000 a year.” The money is designed to cover relocation costs, including Internet access and memberships to coworking spaces. Vermont Governor Phil Scott said this move is to attract more permanent residents to the state.

Oklahoma, Where Remote Workers Come Sweepin’ Down the Plain

Joining Vermont in this new way of talent poaching is Oklahoma. The state recently announced that it is targeting remote workers to relocate to the city of Tulsa.
CBS News reports that workers who move to the city will receive $2,500 toward relocation costs, a $500 monthly stipend and a $1,500 bonus at the completion of 12 months in the city. Like Vermont, there is also a catch! CBS News says that in order to qualify, you must be a full-time remote worker or self-employed outside of the state.
As more employers start offering telecommuting options to attract talent, it won’t necessarily “retain” these workers; at least not in an office setting. If your company hasn’t considered offering this benefit yet, you may be losing top talent to the Gig Economy.

Freelance Work Picks Up

According to a recent FlexJobs survey of more than 800 freelancers, aside from work/life balance and freedom, the top factors that compel people to freelance are the desire to choose when (62%) and where they work (55%). And 85% of freelancers report that they work from their home office.
To demonstrate the various opportunities in the remote freelance job marketplace, FlexJobs has identified the top 25 companies hiring remote freelancers so far in 2019. Note, here is just a small sample, but you can find the full list here.

1. Robert Half
2. VocoVision
3. CyraCom
4. AFIRM
5. Landi English
6. Apex Systems
7. EXL
8. GreatAuPair
9. Syndicate Claims Services
10. Aquent

As you can see, staffing firm Robert Half takes the cake on hiring gig workers, yet recruiters don’t make the cut when it comes to the types of roles being filled by freelancers. FlexJobs also identified 10 remote jobs that dominate the Gig Economy, these include:

1. Accountant
2. EVP of Social Media and Digital Strategies
3. Law Enforcement Transcriber
4. Managing Editor
5. Online ESL Teacher
6. Project Coordinator
7. Senior Cyber Security Specialist
8. Senior Software Engineer
9. Speech Language Pathologist
10. Video Production Manager

As technology continues to evolve, so will the ways people work. Who knows, in a few years your workforce may consist of full-time, freelance talent, but we’re not there just yet.